Manchester City must sell to seal swoop for Robin van Persie

Van Persie has entered the final 12 months of his contractAdam Davy/EMPICS Sport

Roberto Mancini has hinted strongly that he will have to sell a striker to try to conclude a deal for Robin van Persie this summer.

The Manchester City manager is under pressure to generate his own transfer income by selling players, but it is believed that the club have agreed a deal with the Arsenal striker, who has entered the final year of his contract.

Arsenal have offered Van Persie an improved deal, worth about £130,000 a week, but privately the North London club accept that it may be a case of achieving the best possible price, echoing Samir Nasri’s transfer in the same direction when he was in the last year of his contract a year ago. The midfielder cost City £24 million, but…